Biology Unit 1 Characteristics and organization of living organisms

1. List and describe the characteristics of living organisms.

2. Understand the cellular nature of all living things ["cell theory"].

3. Know that almost all new cells are “born” by cell division.

4. Describe the differences between prokaryotic cells (bacteria) and eukaryotic cells.

5. Describe the differences between typical plant cells (e.g. leaf cells) and typical animal cells (e.g human cheek cells).

6. Describe the function of the following structures: cell membrane, cell wall, cytoplasm, nucleus, chloroplast, large vacuoles in plant cells, mitochondria, ribosomes, and be able to identify these structures (except mitochondria and ribosomes) on diagrams and photographs of cells.

7. Give examples of cell specialisation, relating cell structure to function.

8. Define and give examples of: tissues, organs, organ systems.

9. Be aware of the size of typical cells in micrometres, and be able to convert between micrometres and other units of length (metres, centimetres and millimetres).

10. Use a light microscope correctly, explain the functions of its component parts, and describe how to make simple stained slides. (Vocab: eyepiece, objective, stage, focus, condenser, diaphragm, coverslip, stain.)

11. Be able to calculate the actual size of cells if given the magnification of a drawing or a scale line on a drawing.

12. Simply describe how electron microscopes reveal the presence of many cellular organelles with specialised functions. e.g. mitochondria, ribosomes.

LO.1

List nd describe the characteristics of living organisms

Organisms reproduce

• They can do this because of DNA

Organisms need continuous supplies of energy

• Some organisms need to take in food for their activities and growth, while others can generate energy through photosynthesis.

Organisms grow and develop

Organisms respond to stimuli from changes in the environment

Organisms have evolved from other organisms

All organisms alive today on planet Earth are made up of similar things

• All living organisms on Earth come from a common ancestor

• All organisms are made up of cells

Lo 2 Understand the cellular nature of all living things(cell theory)

Three laws of cell theory

1. All living things are made up of cells

2. All cells perform life processes (show characteristics of life)

3. All cells are from other cells (reproduction)

Lo 3 Know that all new cells are born by cell division

Cell division allows

• Organisms to grow and develop

• An organism to reproduce

• Death of old cells

• replacement of damaged cells

For growth and repair, the new cells must contain genetic information that is IDENTICAL to the parent cell. The parent cell doesn’t exist after cell division.

LO 4 Describe the differences between prokaryotic cells(bacteria) and Eukaryotic cells

Prokaryotes are small and simple, whereas eukaryotic cells are complex and large in structure.

Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, they also tend to be unicellular. While eukaryotic cells have a defined nucleus and various organelles that perform specific functions, as well as being mostly multicellular.

The two main types of cells are Eukaryotic cells and Prokaryotic cells.

Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus, have a cell wall 1 micrometer thick, and have little to no organelles with membranes.

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, 10-100 micrometers long; plants, fungi, and protists have cell walls, while animals and some protists do not.

Lo 5

Describe the differences between typical plant cells and typical animal cells.

Lo 6:

Describe the function of the following structures

Nucleus: contains genetic material, controlling activities of the cell in both animals and plants

Cytoplasm: where most of the chemical processes take place, controlled by enzymes. Both plants and animals

Cell membrane: controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell, both in animals and plants

Ribosomes: Protein synthesis happens here, both in plants and animals

Cell wall: strengthens the cell only in plants

Chloroplast: contains chlorophyll, absorbs light energy for photosynthesis, only in plants

Permanent vacuole: filled with cell sap to keep the plant turgid, only in plants

LO 7

GIve examples of cell specialization, relating cell structure to function

Different types of cells

Each cell is specialized ro perform a paticular function. The shape and structure is adapted so that they can function efficiently.

Nerve cell:

Function to carry out messages around the body

Structural Adaptation is long-shaped to help carry messages across long distances and many branched dendrites to pick up messages

Root hair cell:

Function to absorb minerals and water from the soil and its structural adaptation is that it has long root hair cells, increasing the amount of surface area so that more water can be absorbed.

Red blood cells:

Function to carry 02 around the body and its structural adaptation contain many hemoglobin proteins that 02 binds to.

Sperm cell:

Function to deliver male DNA to the egg

Structural adaptation is that it has a tail to help the cell swim towards the egg.

LO 8

Define and give examples of: tissues, organs, organ systems

A tissue is a group of the same cells

Cell→ tissues → organs → organism system → organisms

An organ is a complex structure that performs specific functions in the body. Each organ is made up of different types of tissues.

Examples of organs are the heart which pumps blood and is made of different tissues

stomach, ovary, eye

An organ system is a group of organs that work together performing a major function

Examples - The Circulatory system transports materials such as oxygen and nutrients around the body. Made up of. the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

The digestive system, which digests and absorbs food made up of many organs, including the stomach, the intestines, the pancreas, and the salivary glands.

Lo9. Be aware that the size of typical cells is in micrometers and be able to convert micrometer to other units(meters, centimeters, and milimeters)

Lo. 10 Use a light microscope correctly, name the functions and the name of component parts, descruube how to make simple stained slides.

Lo. 12 be able to calculate the actual size of cells if given the magnification of a drawing